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DARLINGS (COACH-PITCH) RULES
Rev: 3/30/15
FSA Softball is not currently affiliated with any organization (i.e. ASA, Dixie, USFA, etc.). However,
ASA rules will serve as the primary set of rules for FSA softball except as modified herein. If no
modification to the applicable rule is incorporated, the ASA rules will prevail.
Eligibility:
This division is restricted to players 8 years of age and younger based on their age on
9/1/14. ie: if a child’s birthday is 9/1/06 or younger, they ARE eligible for the
DARLINGS division. Players wishing to play up from their eligibility in the Darlings
Division must have played a season at the Darlings level or equivalent if new to the FSA
Softball.
(A)
Darlings players shall use an eleven (11) inch hard softball.
(B)
A regulation game may start with seven (7) players. No outs will be recorded for the
missing batters (i.e. the short handed rule is not in effect). Up to ten (10) players may be
placed in the field. Teams shall field (6) “infield players” and (4) “outfield players”.
Outfield players must set up both feet in the grass. All players on the roster and present
will bat. No out shall be recorded for injured/sick players unable to bat.
(C)
The pitcher’s plate, for purposes of distances only, is thirty-five (35) feet from home plate
and the base paths are sixty (60) feet.
(D)
There is one umpire positioned at home plate area.
(E)
Game time is one (1) hour and fifteen (15) minutes or five (5) innings.
(F)
There is a five (5) run limit per inning.
(G)
Only ASA approved fast-pitch softball bats may be used.
(H)
The infield fly rule will not be observed.
(I)
A base runner may lead off the base, once the ball has left the “coach pitcher’s” hand. If
a runner leaves early, they will be given one warning per team. If a runner leaves the
base early after the team warning, the umpire will declare a dead ball and the runner
will be called out.
(J)
A runner may score only on a batted ball. There is no base stealing.
(K)
If a runner advancing between bases has not advanced more than half way when the
ball has crosses the plane of the circle AND a “stoppage of play” has occurred, the
runner will be returned to the last base touched prior to the timeout call. A
stoppage of play in all cases will be indicated by the umpire calling timeout as a
result of stoppage of play.
Stoppage of Play is defined as….
1. Stopping the lead runner.
2. An outfielder backs up an overthrown ball from the infield (dirt) to
any base and has possession of the ball.
3. If a ball is overthrown to first base and any fielder gains possession
of the ball.
4. The pitcher is in the vicinity of the circle and a throw intended for
the pitcher crosses the plane of the pitcher’s circle.
Any situation that does not meet the stoppage of play criteria above will result in
the base runner(s) being allowed to advance at their own risk. Base runners are
limited to one extra base per each over throw. If there are additional/multiple
overthrows on the same batted ball then the runner may continue to run until one
of the above stoppages of play occurs.
(L)
The dropped third strike rule will not apply (i.e. a batter cannot run to first base on a
dropped third strike).
(M)
Illegal pitch will not be called; instead the pitch will be called “no pitch”.
(1)
An adult team representative (coach pitcher), will pitch to their team while keeping one
foot in the 16’ (dia.) pitcher’s circle when the ball is released. The coach pitcher must
avoid interfering with a play on the batted ball, and will move to either 1st or 3rd base
foul territory after the ball has been hit and passes them. If the coach pitcher is hit by a
live batted ball, the ball will be declared dead and no pitch will be recorded with the
batter resuming her at bat. The coach pitcher is allowed to talk to the batter until the ball
is presented to be pitched. Once the ball has been presented to be pitched the coach
pitcher is not allowed to speak. The coach pitcher may not coach/speak to the batterrunner or other runners after the ball has been pitched. The umpire will issue a warning.
Repeated failure to comply may result in the replacement of the coach pitcher.
***If it is determined by the umpire that a coach pitcher intentionally interfered with a
batted ball or defensive player’s ability to field a batted ball, the batter will be called out
and the coach pitcher will be at risk of being replaced. This is at the sole discretion of the
umpire.
(N)
Offensive coaches will be permitted to occupy the coaching boxes for instruction;
however, they are not allowed to physically assist the base runner(s). Physically assisting
base runners (interference) will result in the base runner being called out and the play
being called dead with any remaining base runners being returned to the closest base.
In addition to the offensive coaches, up to two defensive coaches can position themselves
in foul territory behind first and third bases. One defensive coach must be behind home
plate to assist with passed balls. The defensive coach behind home plate is not permitted
to speak once the coach pitcher takes the pitching position until the pitch crosses home
plate or is put in play. It is the responsibility of this coach to remove any bats from the
field of play after the batter leaves the batters box on a batted ball.
(O)
A batter will receive up to five (5) pitches from the coach pitcher. If the batter swings
and misses three times before the batter has received five (5) pitches, the batter is out. If
the batter does not hit a fair ball within the five (5) pitches, the batter is out.
EXCEPTION: If a batter hits a foul ball on the fifth pitch, she will receive additional
pitches until the player puts the ball in play, does not swing at an additional pitch or
swings and misses an additional pitch.
(P)
A batter hit by a pitched ball is not awarded first base. If the batter does not swing at the
pitch, it is a dead ball and will be counted as one of the pitches delivered to the batter. If
the batter swings at the pitch, it is a strike and a dead ball.
(Q)
Bunting will NOT be allowed. All batters must take a full swing. A full swing is when
the bat travels from one shoulder across to the other shoulder.
(R)
The defensive player/pitcher must stand in the back half of the circle with both feet in the
circle until the coach pitcher releases the ball. Defensive player/pitcher must wear a
helmet with a facemask.
(S)
Whenever the player occupying the catcher's position reaches base with two outs, or is on
base when there are two outs, a courtesy runner can replace that player. The courtesy
runner will be the last player to have completed their "at bat" who is not currently on
base. For the purposes of this rule, the player occupying catcher's position is defined as
the player to play the catcher position in the following inning. The catcher who is
removed from base for the courtesy runner is now obligated to catch the next half
inning
(T)
Every player must play the infield (P, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B) by the end of the 4th inning of
each game. No player shall sit 2 innings in a game before all players in attendance have
sat at least one inning. No player shall sit 2 innings consecutively. Lineups will be
required to be exchanged at the home plate meeting prior to each game with one copy
being given to the umpire and one to the opposing team. Any changes made to the
lineup must be reported to the umpire and opposing team. Failure to comply with this
rule will result in a forfeit of that game (a team will not be penalized if a game is
shortened by weather or it time expires prior to playing the 4th inning).